Naruto exclaimed, "I had no idea that Kakashi sensei was so cool!"
Suddenly he had a thought. He looked at Fujin and asked in a confused tone, "But if he knows that many jutsus, why didn't he ever teach us any jutsu? I even asked him several times to teach me a cool jutsu but he never taught me anything!"
Fujin showed a confused expression as well and asked, "He didn't?"
Naruto replied, "He didn't. He just taught us formations and teamwork, you know."
Fujin put up a thoughtful expression as he said in an unsure tone, "Well, teamwork and formations are important too, but why wouldn't he teach you jutsus?"
Fujin pretended to be in deep thought for a few seconds. Naruto didn't disturb him and waited patiently for Fujin to be done thinking. Fujin's eyes suddenly widened as he exclaimed, "Ah! I got it!"
Naruto listened with anticipation as Fujin explained, "I guess he doesn't think that you and your teammates are worthy enough to be taught his special jutsus yet. Did you do anything to prove yourself to him yet?"
Naruto replied unsurely, "We passed his graduation test."
Fujin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Your team managed to defeat Kakashi?"
Naruto's voice became softer as he answered, "No, we didn't manage to get the bells. He passed us because we decided that our teammates were more important than orders."
Fujin waved his hand dismissively and said, "That's good but that's just the basic requirement to become a Genin. It can't be considered as proving your worth. Did you or your team do anything else that was impressive?"
Naruto crossed his arms and answered unhappily, "Other than that we only did lame missions and teamwork exercises. How can I prove myself while we are catching cats and dogs?"
Fujin's expression became very serious. He looked at Naruto and said in a strict tone, "Naruto, a ninja must see underneath the underneath! I suspect that Kakashi has been giving you three opportunities to prove yourselves. However, since your mind is so focused on missions and training, you three have completely missed it."
Naruto muttered, "Underneath the underneath? I know that, but what signs did Kakashi sensei give us?"
He became confused once again. Looking at Fujin, he wondered, 'Why do I become so confused whenever I talk with Fujin? What was underneath those lame missions?'
Fujin rested his right elbow on his left hand and his chin on his right hand. He put up his thinking face again and muttered, "Let's see… Hatake Kakashi… Three new Genins… Easy missions… And teamwork exercises… Hmm…"
Fujin pretended to think for a couple of minutes before his face suddenly lit up. He smiled and said, "I see it now."
Naruto excitedly asked, "What is it?"
Fujin answered, "It's simple really. He is teaching the three of you teamwork, meaning that he wants the three of you to work together. And, he is giving the three of you easy missions, meaning that you guys still have some energy to do something else while you three are completing the mission."
Naruto's eyes widened. He said, "I never thought of it this way. You are damn smart, Fujin!"
Fujin chuckled and continued, "That 'something else' is your opportunity to do something to prove yourself. As for what that can be… Let's see."
Fujin pretended to think again for half a minute before continuing, "Well, knowing Kakashi, you can prove yourself to him in two ways."
Fujin raised two fingers as Naruto watched with more attention than the combined attention he paid during his 6 years in the Academy.
Fujin said, "The first way is to steal the book he keeps reading. Kakashi values that book very much and it won't be easy for you three to do it. If you do, then you'll prove that you are worthy of being taught his special jutsus."
Naruto exclaimed, "His book?"
Immediately the memory of Kakashi reading the book while they did missions appeared in his mind. He thought, 'Fujin is right! Kakashi sensei does love his book a lot. If we can take it away from him, he'll be impressed with our abilities. What's the second thing?'
Fujin continued, "The second way is for you three to see what Kakashi's real face behind that mask is. Very few in the village know what he looks like behind the mask. If you three can do it, he'll be impressed for sure."
Naruto's eyes widened again as he thought, 'He's right again! We don't even know what he looks like!'
The more Naruto thought the more he felt that Fujin's words made complete sense. He exclaimed, "I never thought of it in this manner!"
Fujin smiled and said, "That's why he hasn't taught you his jutsus yet. Once your team begins making some progress in these aspects, he'll begin reconsidering and will eventually teach you.
That said, don't tell him or even your teammates that I was the one who gave you this idea. Otherwise, he'll think that it wasn't you who looked underneath the underneath."
Fujin blinked his left eye as he said the last sentence. Naruto immediately understood his message. He quickly got up and said, "You are the best, Fujin! I'll prove to Kakashi sensei that I am worthy in no time, believe it!"
Naruto quickly rushed out of Fujin's house. He wanted to meet up with Sasuke and Sakura and form a plan to do either of the two tasks.
A grin formed on Fujin's face when Naruto left his house impatiently. He muttered to himself, 'Now that should guarantee some entertainment. It's a shame that these three aren't strong enough to give Kakashi a nightmare, but they should cause a few headaches at least.
The next time Naruto comes to meet me, I'll tell him that if he wants Hiruzen to give him a better mission, he'll have to successfully prank Hiruzen until he feels that Naruto and his team are worthy. After all, why should Kakashi have all the fun?
It's a shame that I can't use these three to harass Shikaku or Danzo. Otherwise, it would have been perfect. Oh well, I'll start sending a Shadow Clone to keep an eye on them from tomorrow. Wouldn't want to miss the free entertainment, hehe.'
With some entertainment guaranteed, Fujin's mood improved. He divided the puppets that Sasori donated to him. Unlike what he had said to Hiruzen, Fujin had already thoroughly researched the puppets. He didn't need any time to decide. He kept the 15 best puppets for himself and decided to give Hiruzen the remaining 49 puppets. He rested the rest of the day and visited some of his favorite restaurants in Konoha.
Meanwhile, Naruto gathered Sakura and Sasuke together despite it being an off day. He quickly explained to them what Fujin had informed him. Both looked at him skeptically.
Sakura asked, "How could a ninja know a thousand jutsus? I only know three. Even Sasuke-kun knows less than 10. I know Kakashi sensei is strong, but a thousand is too much even for him."
Naruto was skeptical at first as well of that information, but he trusted that Fujin wouldn't lie to him. He said, "There is no doubt about that information. Kakashi sensei knows a thousand jutsus!"
Sasuke was surprised as well, but he decided against questioning whether it was accurate or not. After all, that information was irrelevant to him. What mattered was whether Kakashi would teach them. His mind was focused on the other part of Naruto's story.
He muttered to himself softly, "Could this really be a test for us?"
Naruto nodded and repeated Fujin's words, "A ninja must look underneath the underneath. Otherwise, why wouldn't Kakashi sensei teach us his cool jutsus and why would he make us do lame missions?"
Sasuke thought, 'That makes sense, but since when did Naruto become so smart?'
Both Sakura and Naruto looked at Sasuke who thought for some time. Finally, he said, "Well, there is no harm in trying. If this is indeed a test, then we might make him teach us more seriously. Even if it isn't, then it's not like he can make things worse for us."
With Sasuke agreeing, Sakura didn't oppose and Naruto was always on board. The three of them decided to think of ways to accomplish either of the two tasks Fujin suggested.
After a long discussion and creating several plans, they finally left. Walking towards his home, confusion was visible on Sasuke's face. He thought, 'Something about this feels off. The biggest question is since when did Naruto become so smart to look through something like this? Yet, I can't deny that his words made complete sense. I guess, we'll find out soon.'
